Woes of a Really, Very Bad Haircut

by Shelbey Kendall

The first book in The Sonshine Sister Club series, “Woes of a Really, Very Bad Haircut”, introduces you to Miranda Hope Wilson, more fondly known as Andie. She’s ten-years-old, homeschooled, has two older brothers, and has a lot of emotions.

Andie has just experienced her first bad haircut and it has made a big problem of things. First of all, she doesn’t feel like herself. Secondly, none of her friends have short hair and she feels set apart, and not in a good way. She used to love her life which includes homeschooling, cooking, crafting, reading, and meeting with her friends weekly for The Sonshine Sister Club. It’s a club her and four other friends started to help one another grow closer to Jesus, but with her new haircut she begins to feel all sorts of awful things about herself, her friends, and even Jesus.

Will Andie figure out how to grow through her terrible circumstances before her hair grows out? Or will she allow a bad haircut to ruin everything?


Note from the Author

The Sonshine Sister Club series is an idea that came to me one day while I was driving my youngest daughter to and from her dance class. My girls love to read and consume books almost as fast as I consume coffee! She was in the seat behind me, reading her book, when the idea for The Sonshine Sister Club suddenly burst inside my brain. That’s how it often happens for me in my writing—an intense realization that I need to get to my computer and write something down.

We are a homeschooling family and in my search for books to add to our library I realized there are very limited books available that feature a homeschooled main character that my girls can relate to. I beta read all my books with my girls and when I first said the words “homeschool co-op” out loud while reading a scene, my daughter perked up and exclaimed, “We go to homeschool co-op, too!”

In that moment I realized I was onto something. This book series was needed, even if it was just for my girls.

My girls laughed through the stories of Andie, her friends, and her family—especially the scenes with Andie’s older brother, Levi. There is family tension, lots of emotions, and real life in these pages. I wanted a series that felt realistic, and while there are times my own children don't make the best decisions (not that I always do either!), no child or adult is perfect. We can strive to become more like Jesus just like the Sonshine Sisters do, but we make mistakes along the way. That’s what I wanted in these books. I wanted Andie and her friends to make mistakes and to learn lessons on how to become more like Jesus through them.

If you loved The Babysitter’s Club growing up and loved the emotional turmoil of Judy Moody , but you want a focus of Jesus and the rare homeschooled main character—these books are for you and your children!

Not all the girls in The Sonshine Sister Club are homeschooled. Between the five girls there are varied school and church choices. I think this is important because we can get so caught up in dividing one another based on our choices that we forget Jesus loves us all and we all can become more like Him in our circumstances.

This is an ongoing series where I hope to follow Andie and her friends from 5th grade through 8th grade as they navigate through what can often be a difficult time in life.

Genres: Childrens, Middle Grade

152 pages, Paperback

Published December 11, 2023

About the author

Shelbey Kendall writes heartwarming, hope-filled fiction for readers of all ages. As the author of The Sonshine Sister Club series, she blends faith, family, friendship, and a touch of humor to encourage young readers that no mess or mistake is too big for Jesus. In addition to middle grade fiction, Shelbey also writes kisses only, no-swearing romance filled with real emotion and characters you’ll root for. Whether she’s crafting stories for kids or grown-ups, her mission is the same: to offer light in the darkness and remind readers that grace is always within reach.

When she’s not writing, you’ll likely find her sipping coffee, listening to country music, or spending time with her family. She lives in small-town Kansas and is always dreaming up her next story.

Follow her on Instagram: @shelbeykendallauthor

Reviews

[Victoria Springer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just read this first book in The Sonshine Sisters series after buying the whole set. There were times I stopped reading to tell my husband that it felt like I could’ve written this. I have never related to a 10-year-old more. Her upbringing was so similar to mine, and I appreciated reading Andie’s point of view. The writing felt authentic to a 10-year-old homeschooled girl’s experience. I look forward to reading these with my daughter (17 months) when she’s older and the son I have arriving soon (both of whom I plan to homeschool). The challenges Andie faced seemed realistic, and I appreciated how both of her parents were instrumental in helping her navigate her problems. Can’t wait to read the rest! Highly recommend!

[Marina Moreno · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so grateful my daughter gets to grow up with this series in her life! Such an answered prayer for a great book series for pre-teens!

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun story that honestly started speaking to me (as the adult) about body image and our identity in Christ. This book sets up the Sonshine Sister club. They are a group of 10(?) year old girls that meet every week to share where they see God working in their lives and also share prayer requests. What a fun, mature group! Could this ever happen? I don't know but I love the idea. Anyway, our main character Andie got an awful haircut because she refused to brush her hair and the knots were so bad the only solution was cutting it. She hates it so much and her entire world is viewed through the lense of this awful haircut. Her friend is obsessed with boys and middle school drama (she must be a little older) and Andie is annoyed, yet she is also obsessed with something pretty superficial. They get annoyed at each other and have a little fall out that comes back around so nicely in talking about how our own stuff can really taint our attitudes and our viewpoints on everything and how that is not Christ like at all. I loved the way the girls took responsibility for themselves and their actions and often times Andie did the right thing, even though it was the hard thing. Is this realistic? Maybe not, but its a great example of real life people doing their best to be more like Jesus!

[Chelsea Beisner · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for a fun clean book for your pre-teen/teen, then this is the book for you. It is a hilarious mixture of some of the classic series we grew up reading and loving. The Sonshine Sister Club moderately mimics the Babysitter’s Club. The difference is that this new club of girls is based on the love for Jesus and making each other more Christ-like. The fun quips of definitions for bigger words is very Fancy Nancy inspired. I loved the emotions and expressions of each character. Andie and her friends are so relatable. They remind me of my very own 10yr & 8yr old daughters. Overall it is an easy read. I love that the author not only told a story, but taught a lesson in self reflection and love in the process!

I can’t wait to gift this book to my daughters for Christmas - and any more that follow in this series for upcoming birthdays!

*Thank you to the author, Shelbey Kendall, I received this book before its release as part a member of her ARC readers. The exchange has no bearing on my review. This review is solely and honestly my personal opinion of the book itself.

[Krystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this with my daughters (ages 4-9) and we all absolutely LOVED it! I appreciate how my girls were able to relate to Andie and her friends on so many things: homeschool, church, friends from co-op/public school/private school/church, praying, working through sin issues, asking for forgiveness, playing games, sibling relationships (and being annoyed by her brother), talks with her parents... literally every moment!

I so appreciated the way the girls modeled true one-another friendships. Both the ups and downs and having to work through the downs and seek forgiveness or forgive one-another.

This book is truly a gem in the middle grade fiction world! Can't wait to keep reading, as we jumped straight into book 2!

[Honey & Chapters · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 11 year old daughter and I both read the first book f the series and absolutely loved it! It’s about a group of girls (some 5th grade & others in middle school) who start a prayer group. the girls navigate differences in friendships, family, school & every day challenges many girls can relate to. Woven throughout the story are biblical truths that point readers back to God in a natural and encouraging way.
My daughter is so excited to have found a new series she genuinely enjoys, and I love that it’s both engaging and faith filled.
This is a great and wholesome alternative to the baby sitters little sister or dork diaries. I highly recommend this series for your preteen!

[Jamie Chaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute! Ruby (9) read this aloud to me. Christian perspective and so pertinent to her little life. It focuses on a friend group of mixed school and family backgrounds and its a little club of girls. Learning to get along and care for each other through differences is a wonderful lesson. Amazingly similar to our actual life!! It applies scripture to common children's situations. It's written from the little girls perspective and is so cute

[Rosalina Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

My child and I enjoyed reading this book together! The character was so relatable for her and has very good lessons about friendships, making mistakes and seeking Jesus through it all!

[Viola Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent chapter book for my daughters. It has great faith content without being preachy. Highly recommend for ages 8 and up!

[Teri Savell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book. I have three daughters and the oldest in going into 4th grade. I love that these books have girls from different types of schools (private, public and homeschooled) and they are all trying to be like Jesus. I love that it shows the struggles they are going through on trying to do the right thing. I love that this book talked about not seeing what is going on in others lives while we are only focusing on our own issues. I have been recommending this series to all the moms I know that have girls.